White Desire
Chapter 13
In spite of the protests, Tifa had come home to a rather interesting conflict. The others, Cloud especially, had continuously tried to coerce her into remaining in the bar. Personally Cloud felt that was where she belonged. The brunette wouldn't hear of it, though. Just when she felt she was getting somewhere, the others wanted to pull her out. If Rufus had meant to kill her, he would have done so already. She was certain that Reno had only said that to get a rise out of them. Of course she didn't let that bit of information slip and she had no intentions of doing so, even in her sleep. And again, no matter how they seemed to stop her, she insisted that she needed to go, even if she had to use the frames and the recording device again (which she knew she wouldn't use anyway). In the end, Cloud finally gave her permission to go back to Shin-Ra for work under the condition that she wouldn't do anything outrageous and she'd give a yell for help at the first sign of trouble. Pleased by her oath, he released her from the cage and she had gone back to the world of business.
Since she had returned to her desk, which had become quite dear to her, Tifa was still thinking about everything that happened and how Cloud had been wrong. Shin-Ra's plans really were to find a replacement energy source, and they weren't planning anything bad at all. She felt like all the things she had fought for had been all the wrong things. It was an awful feeling to live with. She'd been more than willing to do all the work Rufus had set out for her and even more. She demanded overtime without pay, which Rufus had tried again and again to deny, but at her irritating insistence, he complied (albeit reluctantly). The day she had finally convinced Cloud to let her return to work, she'd apologised to Rufus profusely for being absent, and rather than allowing her to work that overtime, he invited her to play a game of chess, which he felt would be most beneficial for both of them. He'd get some peace and quiet and she would have some calmer thoughts and not flip out so much.
The brunette was sitting upon a chair before a rather fancy glass table and the president before her. Off to the side were a couple of fluted wine glasses filled with a rather tasteful spumante. They'd spoken of where their origins and their possible future plans. It was the first time Tifa had ever spoken with someone without feeling so completely judged. For Rufus, his interest was piqued at this point. The more he learned, the more he wanted to know, and judging by her reactions, his companion felt the same. It seemed at last, there was a connection that was made, whether the two were aware of it or not.
"President Shin-Ra...I received word that you ordered the Turks to take Marlene Wallace into their custody." Tifa reached out a hand to take her glass and took a sip as her eyes met his. She'd been thinking about that since she was informed of the situation. Marlene was quite important to her and she needed to stress that to Rufus in any way possible. "I...will do anything for you, if you let her come home with me. The others are so worried and I am too. I would really, really, really appreciate it if you would fulfill that request for me. After everything I've done, and thought, and said, I know I don't deserve this, but it would mean the absolute wo--"
Rufus shook his head at her slowly, almost as though to scold her. She was so loyal to those she cared about. He wondered what it would be like for someone to feel that way about him. Unlike everyone else, when he spoke with the young lady before him, she made him think about things he'd never thought about before. It must have been how devastatingly different she was from the others he had chosen to involve himself with. "Miss Lockhart, please. You have continuously apologised to me since that night with Reno. I assure you, I hold no ill will towards the actions in the past." He was quiet, thoughtful for a moment. He had no reason to keep Marlene anymore. He knew it would cause a small disturbance, but at that moment, he wasn't going to let anything happen to Tifa. She'd become just a little more important to him and he couldn't quite place why. He finally gave her a nod of consent. "Miss Wallace has been held here in the company. I shall notify Reno when you leave and you may take her with you."
He hadn't mentioned anything else in return and his companion was unsure if she should bring that up. If she didn't, it meant that she was taking advantage of his kindness. If she did, however, she could put herself in another odd predicament where she might have to have another date with a strange person. No matter what she was concerned about, she knew that she needed to do what she felt was right. "I've told you before, you can just call me Tifa. I don't need...that title, especially not after what I allowed to happen." She stood and began to pace back and forth slowly. "Since you were so kind to me, it is my honour to repay your consideration."
"Sit down, Miss Lockhart." He couldn't call her by the first name. That didn't stand well with him. When she had taken her seat again, he resisted the temptation to give a dejected sigh. The way she spoke bothered him slightly. "As you were. You are being too formal." He appreciated that kind of thought, but sometimes there was an extreme that people reached. He knew people were brown nosing him and as much as it frustrated him, he had no desire to talk about it. He gestured for her to move a piece and as she did so, he spoke again. "You are from Nibelheim. I am curious as to whether all people from there are like you or not." He didn't think there was anyone like her. Tifa was one of a kind, and he was fond of that.
She raised a leg crossing it over the other and then bit her bottom lip. She'd been doing that a lot lately. It was difficult talking to him because she didn't really know what to say. She'd been saying and doing all of the wrong things for a few years now and she wanted to do anything, anything at all to compensate for them. Following his orders to the best of her ability was the first thing she wanted to do. After moving her piece, her eyes looked over his face. He seemed so serious all of the time and she wondered if he ever smiled. If he did, though, he probably looked very handsome. She thought he was good-looking and the closer she examined him, the more she continuously agreed with herself. Here she was, sitting at a table playing a mental game with the same man who had tried to kill her so long ago. And rather than acting as enemies, it seemed like they were comrades. It was a rather strange sensation to experience. Did he feel the same way? Was there that uncertainty on his mind as well? "Have you...Sir, ever considered that you trust too easily? It is out of line for me to question your judgment, but you are allowing someone from your past who attempted to assassinate you to work in your company, and no longer for a price. I could be asking the same about myself. We have tried to kill each other before and yet we pretend to put these things aside. I do not think that in your position I would be able to act the same."
The president knew she had a valid point, but he was looking to put away the past. There were things that needed to stay there, and bringing them up would not make it any easier. She'd raised an interesting topic, however. He knew she was speaking of the time in Junon when she and Barret were to be executed. There was something about that, though, that she had not been informed of...until now, of course. "Miss Lockhart, the dropping of that key was no mere accident." Little had she known that he'd watched her from the very first time he saw her upon the roof top with the others. She had made an imprint in his mind, which was probably considered some type of lust, not that he would ever call it that or bring it up.
Tifa's eyebrows furrowed and a perplexed look fell over her soft facial features. He had said something that was incredibly unexpected. She knew he was informed about the public execution in Junon, but she thought that was because he was the one who had arranged it. Scarlet had been left in charge at the time, and there was a glitch in the plan that allowed Tifa to escape from the gas chambre. Was she wrong on this thinking as well? "...Wait...you're not serious, are you? Were you the one responsible for that?" When she had received a nod, she felt herself blush to the roots of her hair. "...You deliberately saved my life. I don't understand you. You were really helping us the entire time. You were trying to save the planet as well." It was an interesting thing to think about and it didn't even cross her mind that he could have possibly lied to her. He was so serious and it didn't seem that he was the type of person to pull something like that. It had to be true; all of it. Now she owed him so much more. He'd saved her and the others many times before and he had protected them. If anyone else found that out, how would they react?
She was so easy to read. She was like a book. A very interesting one, but somewhat easy to read. He was hoping she'd be more of a challenge. Rufus shook his head as he took his glass and then a small drink. "You owe me nothing, Miss Lockhart. It was my pleasure." As she began to protest, he raised his free hand before rising to his feet. It seemed their game had come to a stand still. She probably wouldn't be able to concentrate with those thoughts upon her mind anyway. There was no need to cause more things of the sort. "Are you hungry at all? Let us go get something to eat. I'll take care of the expenses." It wasn't something he'd typically ask, but he was feeling faintly pained by her. His empathy had set in and he could nearly feel her confusion more than his own. As he paused by her, he began to hold out his arm and then pulled it away. It would seem a little strange if he was seen escorting her...or anyone else, for that matter, throughout the company's headquarters.
Tifa looked up at him with a rather odd expression as though she hadn't quite heard him the first time. "...As in...out to eat...? Like..." A date? When she thought about it, she'd blushed again and then willed it away as she pushed herself up from her chair. Normally she wouldn't have accepted such a thing, especially not from him, but the idea of having lunch sounded nice. Besides, who was she to reject the company of a fine young man such as himself? It would give her a chance to get to know him more, and she couldn't pass that up. She nodded to him slowly, and fidgeted with her hands for a few moments and then gestured to the door. "That sounds nice. I'd like that." Perhaps it was the wine talking.
Rather than allowing her to go after him Rufus enforced the 'ladies first' rule and unofficially escorted her down the corridors. All the time that he watched her, he was interested in the wonder within her eyes. She seemed like she had so many questions, and although he was curious about them, he was glad that she wasn't asking them. Frankly, questions tired him out easily and he wanted to remain fresh for the following day. Of course, knowing that she'd be in as well, he would look his best. Not that he was trying to impress her...much. As the two walked in silence with each other, she reminded him of a young girl. Her hands were slipped behind her back, and there seemed a happy smile upon her face. She looked much younger than what he thought she was (which he was uncertain about anyway). "...Miss Lockhart, have you not looked around before?" It wasn't exactly the question he wanted to ask her, but he didn't know how to continue with such subjects.
Tifa glanced over to him and then tilted her head to the side. She didn't really know how to respond at first. Rufus Shin-Ra was the president of odd questions. And she was the president of few answers. It wasn't that she avoided his inquiries, she just didn't always understand what he meant, and to make herself appear more smart, she tried to deviate him. Most of the time that didn't work, though. He was much too smart for that sort of manipulation. She should've known. She remained quiet for a few moments and then smiled, giving a small chuckle. "Well, I don't really go anywhere except when you have messages for me to drop off elsewhere. I don't have time to really think about looking around because I don't want to keep you waiting. You made it more than clear to me that you don't actually care for that." And that was true. He'd specifically told her than he didn't like wasting his time and would rather have things done and over with (as long as they were done right). She wasn't looking to make the tension grow between them.
Perhaps he was being just a little too hard on her? Maybe just a little. He'd have to keep that in mind from now on. His company was one that he did feel some type of commitment for and he probably would have felt the same, even if his father hadn't pushed him into this career. Any other normal person he could care less whether they understood the electric company or not. Tifa, however, had once looked from the outside as someone who was against him. He felt it would be most beneficial for her to understand things from his perspective, not that he'd ever tell her that. "I see... I shall certainly hold that in thought for future reference." He watched her for a few moments longer and then shook his head slowly. She was too completely different and he did not understand the type of person she was or why she was that way. She seemed so optimistic and he did not find it to be logical. He typically expected the worst, so that must have made him a pessimistic type of fellow. "...Dare I inquire as to why you are so...free-spirited?" It was the closest term to 'happy' he could use. He didn't care for any type of word that described emotion, especially since he seemed to lack those.
It took quite a bit of effort on Tifa's part not to chuckle in the slightest. The way he had phrased it was quite comical, but she felt it would be mean to laugh. Instead, she retained that smile and shook her head slowly, as though she couldn't exactly believe he had said something of the sort. "This is just the way I am, Sir. If it bothers you so much, I'll try to act a little more like you." That thought also made her smile grow a bit. She couldn't picture herself acting anything like him. He was so serious and so...seemingly dull most of the time that she pictured herself falling asleep just by listening to someone and anyone like him. If she needed to, though, she'd change her attitude just a little to keep her job in the company.
The young blonde-haired president shook his head at her, almost in a scolding manner. She was far too easily persuaded into something. She seemed a bit of a pushover. Of course, the status difference between the two was fairly large and he knew that was probably the reason for how cooperative she was being with him. He found himself wondering what she was like when she was back in the slums with the others. It would seem too strange to follow after her or to hire someone to stalk her and report back to him. And if she found out...well, he just didn't want that to happen. He had a feeling the excuse of 'curiosity' wasn't going to float well with her. "That's not necessary, Miss Lockhart. You may bring something...of interest to this company with your actions, thoughts, and beliefs." He wouldn't admit it, but he was rather fond of chaos and he was hoping Tifa would stir some of that up. He'd just have to patiently wait and see, which was no trouble for him at all.
Their walk finished in silence when Rufus had led the two into a small cafe. It was on the same floor that the other employees would go when they needed a moment's peace. Tifa had only been here once before and that was a long time ago, and that was in the Midgar region. From what she had seen so far, though, the two buildings were nearly identical. Perhaps Rufus had a good reason for this. Of course, the likelihood of her being informed of such was fairly non-existent. Within the first few moments of being led in, the two seated themselves in a booth by one of the many windows along a couple of the walls (those were Tifa's favourite type of seats).
She hadn't felt a need to say anything and her wine-hued eyes looked over the surroundings. They must've been awfully high up. The brunette had never quite been fond of heights, but she wasn't entirely too thoughtful at the moment. And if she was, it wasn't about the height, or the fear of falling out the window down all of those stories. Instead, Tifa's mind was strangely focused upon the young man sitting before her. He too was looking out the window and he looked miles away. She wondered what he could possibly be thinking. She didn't think it was proper to ask, though. It never stopped her before...so why did it have such a tight grasp upon her now? When her eyes found his, there was a strange smile that began to tug at her lips. "...So um...you've been sort of quiet. Mind if I ask what it is that you're thinking about? I mean, it's not like you're talkative. You're usually quiet. I've just noticed that lately around me you've been rather...er...aloof. I'm wondering if I should be concerned for my future prospects in this company."
She wasn't sure if he'd heard her. If he had, he was merely ignoring her, which she would accept gracefully (although normally she would have been angry). When he didn't say anything, a hand reached out and lifted the cup of coffee that had been served to her. Oh, how she loved the smell. While the wine they'd shared earlier was quiet good, nothing beat a good old cup of coffee. A small sip was taken and then she continued. Even if he wasn't listening, this was a good time for her to get some of the thoughts and feelings off her chest. She'd been a little overcome by things lately, so it would do her some good to talk about them. "...After all, it sounded as though you had plans to do away with me. Perhaps that is why you are treating me so kindly. You gave me the closest job I could possibly have beneath you. You sent the Turks to my personal home and had them abduct someone important to me. And so we make a bargain for her to come back with me, although it's not really a bargain at all. You say you're just sending her with me...and then you invite me here after a game of chess. You lead me on by trying to turn me against the others of AVALANCHE. Then you bring me here. It's the perfect way to get rid of me." She looked around and gestured with a turn of her head. "There's no one around. And even if there was, it wouldn't stop you."
Rufus had been listening the entire time. As she spoke, he'd turned his gaze onto her and merely watched her with those cold, brooding eyes. His blondish eyebrows were furrowed together as though with great thought. From Tifa's perspective, it probably looked like he was devising some type of plan. Quite the contrary, however, the president was wondering how Tifa had managed to put everything together. That wasn't his plan at all, and in actuality, his plan had completely vanished once he gave things his thought. Taking a drink from his cup, he parted his lips slightly and then shook his head slowly. He was almost close to chuckling. Almost...but not quite. "Do you ever cease to speak?" He wasn't aiming to be rude, but he wanted to catch her off guard and silence her for just a few moments. At the rate she was going, he would never be able to talk around her again, not that he had a lot to say. The shock at her face was nearly enough to bring that laughter back and let it show, but he quickly pushed it aside. "Miss Lockhart, I was not being serious." He was quiet for a few moments more and then put his cup upon the table. "If you really must know, I was merely thinking about something dealing with the business." He knew what was to come. She was going to ask him about the certain 'something' and surprisingly...he'd answer. She would probably hear about it later anyway, being his secretary and all. "There is to be a...social gathering soon and although I would much rather not attend, it seems my presence shall be required. I was thinking, however, that I should like very much for some type of company that is different from the drab...cretins that I deal with on a day-to-day basis." He wasn't going to come right out and invite her. He wasn't entirely that type of person. After all, he'd just spent the last couple of days trying to squeak that out. If she wanted more from him, he was going to throw the entire thing out the window.
Tifa's eyelashes fluttered a couple of times as she heard him. He hadn't responded to a single thing she'd said, so she assumed that it was all wrong. He wasn't planning to kill her after all. It was merely a story to tell Cloud and the others to keep them busy. She thought it was fairly clever. Then again...it had made it quite difficult for her to return to work. She hoped that something like that would not come up again. Her gaze dropped down to the table in thought. It wasn't like she hadn't taken his words to heart. She was just trying to think of a way to respond. He'd just asked her to be his...'companion', his 'date', something like that...right? An eyebrow arched out of interest and she looked back to him. "That your way of asking me to this thing?" There was a faint chuckle that could be heard. It couldn't hurt to tease him...at least a little bit. It meant that the two were becoming more comfortable with each other. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to title that as a good or a bad thing though.
He nearly twitched at her mocking tone and he started to raise when she shook her head at him. "How cruel." He couldn't think of anything more to say. He wondered if that was her way of accepting. He'd never asked anyone to be his companion for anything. Several times he'd gotten the impression that Scarlet wished to attend these sort of...gatherings with him, but he had no intentions of going with her. She was just a little...too 'out there' for him. He couldn't describe it, but the interest in her was completely non-existent. Perhaps that was another reason he liked Tifa so much. She wasn't anything like Scarlet. The more he thought about this, the more irritated he was becoming. The way she was acting was...appalling. He couldn't quite understand why he was feeling the way he was, or why he was even feeling at all. He was beginning to let her in more, and that was something he could scarcely see.
"O-oh...I didn't mean to make you angry." Little did he know that she could read him just a little better than he thought. Tifa was a very observant young woman. She was fairly good at reading between the lines, at least when she had enough information. This time, she'd gotten more than enough. "I'm sorry. It just sounded a little funny to me. And to think you'd want to bring me someplace like that to make the others blink and ask many questions. I would figure you'd want to discourage that type of attention." She didn't think she'd be bringing him anything good, especially if they were to go somewhere seen together. She was, after all, his secretary. Suddenly what Cloud had said made a lot of sense to her. He'd previously mentioned that secretaries and presidents always had some type of outside involvement. That just couldn't be possible between her and Rufus, right? They were too different; just completely different. That would never work out. She wondered why the thought even began to cross her mind.
She began to say more, but then the faint ringtone from her phone was heard and she raised a hand apologetically to him, before pulling it out to her ear and speaking softly. "...Ummm...Tifa here. Yes?" Her face fell, and although she had tried to remain subtle, Rufus was fairly capable of seeing the disappointment. "...I'm at work." She heaved a rather dejected sigh. "I wanted to work some over time. Right now it's the only stable thing in my life." She sounded more than a little exasperated and the president was beginning to grow a little curious about the other side of the conversation. What could possibly be said that was causing her to look so frustrated? She was beginning to resemble the way he had felt just a few moments before. "...All right. Okay. Fine. I'll come home, Cloud. Honestly, you are so helpless without me to clean up after you."
Well, that made sense. Cloud. He was an interesting topic of discussion. Rufus hadn't asked her anything about him, but he sensed it was a rather touchy subject. He wouldn't wish for bad things on anyone else, especially if they dealt with things he or she was trying to avoid. When she had closed her phone, he looked to her with raised eyebrows as though to question. "Over time?" He was vaguely surprised that she hadn't been more honest with him. He was sure that Cloud would have loved to hear she was sitting down with his enemy and dining with him. Oh, wait. He was probably the only one who thought that. He watched her with the penetrating eyes concealing amusement.
The brunette's jaw nearly dropped open and she rose to her feet, her eyebrows knitting together. What was he getting at? What was he implying? She wasn't even sure she wanted to know. Yet, she'd ask anyway. "...I hope you didn't think I was going to tell him you and I were having lunch together. And I certainly hope you didn't think I was going to tell him you just asked me to be your date. We both know that he wouldn't be all right with it. Now, if you want to explain exactly what has been going on, then by all means, go ahead, but I'll have no part in it." The whole charade thing had pretty much ruined things back in the slums. If she was ever honest with the others again, they wouldn't trust her with anything more, no matter how she explained things. This was a game, and she couldn't stop here. She'd be playing on this life for as long as she could, because...unlike a game, she didn't get extra 'guys' or 'continues'. She began to turn from him and then paused, putting her cellular phone away before peering over her shoulder at him. "...I...need to go home. I need to take Marlene too. Take me to Marlene, please."
Moments later, Rufus and Tifa had returned to his office on the top floor of the Shin-Ra building where Marlene was escorted by Rude to the two. She didn't look any different from the last time the elder female had seen her. In fact, her face seemed a little brighter and Tifa suddenly wondered what Reno and the others had done to her. It didn't seem likely that they were giving makeovers or anything of the sort. When Marlene had laid eyes upon Tifa, she'd wasted no time in rushing into her arms. As Tifa's grasp enfolded her, she held the pale female close and then she found Rufus's face and smiled to him with a rather kind look. Receiving a nod in response, she released the younger female and instead took her by the hand, leading her to the door. Then she turned, still retaining that smile and nodded to him. "By the way, that's a yes, President Shin-Ra."
When they had left the headquarters building, Tifa heaved a sigh, as though some great burden had been lifted from her. Marlene had heard this as well, and couldn't help but notice there was some type of hazy look in the elder female's eyes. It was a look that she had never seen Tifa have before. She wondered what it could have meant. She thought she'd seen the same look with the president. There was some type of connection, but she was too young to understand. All she could do was question and ask, but she wondered what type of answer she would get. "Tifaaaa, you look funny. Are you all right?" A hand raised to tug upon her companion's hair gently.
The brunette was met with those soft brown eyes and her lips curled into a smile as she nodded. Her thoughts were beginning to overtake her and if Marlene could see it, everyone else probably could as well. "I'm fine. What about you? I was much more worried about you. Did they do anything to you?" If she found out that Marlene was hurt in any way, she would not hesitate to yell at Rufus the following day. Of course, she'd go straight to the Turks and hit them all, except Elena. She'd hit Elena a few times because that female irritated her almost as much Scarlet...and that was hard to do (sort of).
Marlene had actually had a comfortable stay within Shin-Ra bounds. She understood why people liked that sort of job. The people made a lot of money and had very nice lives. It was the first time she'd stayed in a place like that and being the young impressionable child she was, she was almost sad to leave it behind. She would have preferred to stay only if Tifa and Cloud (and Vincent and her father too) were there with her too. "They were nice, but not as nice as you. Even...Mr. Shin-Ra was sort of nice." The surprise and slight blush on her friend's face did not go unnoticed by her. She giggled softly and pointed to her cheeks. "You're all red, Tifa! Ohhhh! You're in love with him, huh? But I thought you loved Cloud! Do you love Mr. Shin-Ra?"
Tifa thought she was more than a little loose with that word. There wasn't a way to deter that though. She'd have to go with it. There was a soft laugh given and she squeezed the young girl's hand gently. "...Yeah. Right. I'm in love with Rufus Shin-Ra." She was laughing but as she said it, she wondered how true it could possibly be.
